TRANSVAAL CONSTITUTION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8171, 2 August 1906, Page 3

TRANSVAAL CONSTITUTION.

LATEST CABLE NEWS.

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ANNOUNCED BY ME CHURCHILL. EQUAL TREATMENT FOR B'JER AND BRITON. MANHOOD SUFFRAGE AND QUINQUENNIAL PARLIAMENTS H'rtlE ii'UTHII THAN DUTCH VOTERS. OALITION GOVERNMENT HOPED FOR. Received August I,'J.Ma.in. Loxtios-, August 1. In the House of Commons, in Cimmiitee of Supply on the Colonial Ollict vote, Mr Winston Churchill, amidst Ministerial cheers, announced the Government's decision regarding (he Transvaal, which he described as the ime cen' re of Siuth Africa. He said the Constitution created under Mr Lyttelton's regime was defunct and unworkable, as the Boers would hold aloof, or become wreckers of the Constitution. "Our guiding principle," he said, "is to make no difference in the grant of resjionsiblo government be. tween Briton and Boer, between those who fought most loyally for us and those who resisted British arms with the most desperate courage." (Irish cheers.) The tlower of the Boer nation and :ts most renowned leaders recognised the Vereeniging settlement, and King Edward's lawful authority. Thenceforward British supremacy in South Africa stood on sure foundations. Military honor aud warlike achievement was far beyond the reach ol the transference of one or two seats this way or that in the local Parliament. South Africa's future, and its permanent inclusion in the Empire, demanded that the King be equally the sovereign of both races, both looking to Britain as a friend.

The democratic principle of one vote one value, was realisable fairly on a one voters' basts alone, owing to the .lisparity in conditions in town and country (Opposition cheers), and there would be manhood suffrage (Labor cheers). All adult males twenty-cne years of age, who had been resident in the country for a half-year, except numbers of the Garrison, would be entitled to vote by balk t. Sir 'West liidgewny's committee had reported that there wa- no support for proportional representation, hence the Government's plan of single member seats.

In Lord Selbornc s opinion, the Government was perfectly fa : r in allotting, with the Boers' reluct an; assent under the committee's pressure, thirty four -eats to the Rand (inelit ling Krugers■lorp), six to Pretoria an.l twenty nine to the rest of the country. The members would be alequately pud (Irish and Labour cheers), and would be elected for live years The Sneaker would vacate his seat after being cle.-ted, because the Government majority was likely to lie small, and ll would be a hardship to deprive a majority of one of the two or three votes necessary to effective adiiii.iUraliou.

Speeches would be pcrmLible in Dutch or English. There were undoubtedly more ISritish voters than Dutch, and he hoped there would be a coalition Government formed with a modern leader, acceptable to both parties. Such a solution would be a iJodscad to South Africa (Ministerial cheers). He was confident that whatever the majority, it would in no circumstances have failed to do its duty to the Crown.

It was the duty of whoever represented the Colonial Ollice iif the If.ou.sc of Conuuius, to stand between the new Parliament and all unjiistillable interference, from whatever quarter of the House it emanated. Ihe second Chamber, which would have the same duration as the lirsl Parliament, would consist of lil'teen members:, nominated by the Crown. Later it would become elective. With regard to eoolies, there would be freedom to recruit black labour ind'jii'nderuly of the Xativc Labor Association. In return for this concession, the J. B. Eobinson group of mines surrender., :i.'M) uuUtaudiii:: Cuinesj licenses. The cou-tituii.jii would prevent labou: of a seryile character. Lord Selbourne lul been instructed to inquire into the feeling of South Africa, regarding the suggestion that the Transyaal and Orangia's promised contribution to the cost of war be diverted to South Africa for the pur--1-O-e of continuing work; and land settlement in the two colonies, guarauby a board under Lord tjelbourne's control.

Or.mgii would receive a Cm>titutijn later. He ad led that the Government dc-iivs fair representation fo. all c!a-s:s, an 1 effective cxircssions of the will of the majority.

IJKSI'oNSHiIL'TV. lUSII I'UKCiL'II'ATIOX. Beecived :-', 1-2 i', a.m. Tn t!.-> Hon -cof Lord-. Lt.l Kirn. : f\;. : ■; ; ; :i ir t!i.- T-m-va.-ii C m-tuutioii. ill. 1 projected (r .\i-ni',i,-?it. j The <>;.;v,-i;;,n hj, 1,.,;;, |[ ou ... ifuve declined re-pfii-i'.:i;iv for tlijnciv CjiJ-itU'iLiv 1, tli ■ I um:ii.[- | especially. Lords Milnor an I I.'ll-lowi-' :,;„! Ithe lion. A. Lvltc'.'oa 1,;.,:„. M liic j Government f->r ri-'i ptv ip';reni. itheiVis. i The L:WtV. !>iev w-.-i- ---! .-, •■. . ...,-. ; y ■. ''Mi '-ini-i -leiv.l m its liii'sl form.